Is that my son, jumping off a bridge in China?

Yikes. He says it was not as high as it looks. They have been gone 3 months and will be back June 16. Our lives are going to change again.

A Thank you and a SORRY

I've been totally lame about replying to comments on my blog -for some time- and I'm sorry. I have no excuses, I just should do it and I don't. It reminds me that a few dear people besides my mother and mother in law read this  little thing and I appreciate you all, very,very much.  :) Especially with this long dry spell of not painting, that's what this is supposed to be about and it's rarely been. I feel hopeful that I will paint more....
Please know that I read and think about every comment.

Thank you, dear readers!

Julie

A Dream Pang

A Dream Pang

I had withdrawn in forest, and my song
Was swallowed up in leaves that blew alway;
And to the forest edge you came one day
*This was my dream) and looked and pondered long,
But did not enter, though the wish was strong:
you shook your pensive head as who should say,
'I dare not--to far in his footsteps stray-
He must seek me would he undo the wrong.'

Not far, but near, I stood and saw it all
behind low boughs the trees let down outside;
And the sweet pang it cost me not to call
And tell you that I saw does still abide.
But 'tis not true that thus I dwelt aloof,
For the wood wakes, and you are here for proof.

ROBERT FROST

Flower Gathering

Flower-Gathering
I left you in the morning,
And in the morning glow,
You walked a way beside me
To make me sad to go.
Do you know me in the gloaming,
Gaunt and dusty gray with roaming?
Are you dumb because you know me not,
Or dumb because you know?

All for me And not a question
For the faded flowers gay
That could take me from beside you
For the ages of a day?
They are yours, and be the measure
Of their worth for you to treasure,
The measure of the little while
That I've been long away.

ROBERT FROST A Boy's Will

I woke up to:

The new coldplay song

My Lady Head

I think the little fuchsias coming out of the back of my lady head this year are so cute.

Dinner and a movie in the Rain Forest

Mass Moss

Some camping was had this week, by the Fillos. Dave got to go fishing. I took about a million pictures of moss and ferns and things in the rain forest, where we camped by the Hoh River. We had fun. Then we went to Sekiu, and Dave fished with Micah and Sean. Micah caught halibut, but Dave did not. But fun was still had. The weather was fairly crappy, but surprisingly doable. I made a strawberry summer cake and burned the top of my wrist and played several million games of Mahjong.

 Rialto Beach

 The view of Hoh River from our trailer

Now I've bored you with photos of the Rain forest. But I'm thinking there might be some desert dwelling reader who has never seen or misses the wetness of the forest and mossy padded trees and delightful lichen. How I adore it.
We also drove up to Neah Bay and Dave talked about his favorite chidhood memory ever, which was camping in his parents new 16 foot trailer with the Greens. We think we found the spot. I said, "Why don't you ask your parents?" But I think it is the quest and the memory he likes. The beaches by Neah Bay are incredible. I wish I had taken some pictures. But they are world class. I like thinking about him with his family and me with my family camping up there. Maybe little girl Julie saw little boy Dave all those years ago on some rainy beach and we smiled at each other.
I also heard this song this weekend and it describes exactly how I feel about that man.

Lyrics | Sara Bareilles lyrics - Basket Case lyrics

Music I'm Thinking About Today

My Daddy

This was my dad about the time my mom met him. He died when I was 24. I still miss him. He was awesome.

Some Whales

I painted 7 whales the other day, because I promised one to my friend Trixy months ago and while I did one, I might as well do more. I will list them on etsy, for $40 each. If you are interested let me know here and I will ship it for free.

Tea Party at Sharon's

My friend Sharon gave a tea party yesterday and invited Verna and I to help with it. We had so much fun over two days, making the food together. She invited 8 ladies we know who have all lost their husbands, including my mom. It was a delightful afternoon.

My adorable mom
My dear friends, Sharon and Verna talk to the ladies:
Verna made these amaretto cream cups and a cheese terrine with nut sauce and her famous shortbreadI made a strawberry and pistachio pavlova (foreground, below)and lemon curd tart. Sharon made the chocolate raspberry cakes, a stacked sandwich loaf, quiche and more things than I can remember.
My mom's place setting
Pre-party champs with my friends:

A video of my mom talking about how she first met my dad.

I Love this commercial

So Simple, So True

Shanna Murray's Decals

Some Music Videos I Like

I remember staying up past midnight with my kids to watch videos on friday night on WTBS, this was around 1987, and in the days of Peter Gabriel, his video Sledgehammer which is an awesome example of stop motion animation, which I am fascinated by.



I adore these children in costume, singing with Ryan Gosling:










Also, this is hilarious

Most of the above links I got from this blog, http://therebeccaartemisa.blogspot.com/

and her friend is http://grahamkahler.blogspot.com where I found the Key Video

Tybee Island

I just watched a really dumb Miley Cyrus movie, The Last Song, but it was worth it to see the views of Tybee Island, near Savannah, Ga, where I spent some of the best days of my life.
There is a scene towards the end where the white tops of grass are waving against the sea. Gosh, that cold January day? Oh, what fun we had.

A Fun Weekend

My unfinished painting.
Asparagus marinated in olive oil and oregano.
Salmon!
A Montepulciano (sp?) delicious.
Colors
Maiya's first painting. Zoe looks on adoringly. Her arms are too short to paint. Zoe's arms, not Maiya's.

Niki working on her painting, which is one of mine she loved that I got the idea from Ballard Designs. Can't ever sell it, because it's too close to the original, but it's a good learning piece.
Saturday we had the most awesome weather. I got to do KH inspections with Dave in Renton, Sumner and Buckley. Met some interesting people.

Then we had the first barbecue of the summer and it was warm enough to sit outside and eat it! Dave has a new way of cooking steaks he is quite excited about. I forgot to take any pictures.

Then on Sunday, after our meeting, some friends came over. Niki has been after me for awhile to show her some ideas for painting backgrounds, so I had the good idea of asking them over and asking her husband to fix dinner for us all. It was delightful. He made stuffed mushrooms, linguine, grilled salmon and asparagus and Dave did some steaks.

Maiya came too and painted her first painting and I did one too, that is not done.

I had been in a painting slump. I enjoy painting with people, especially one. But that is not possible right now, so it was nice to teach someone something. I think when you are trying to tell someone how to paint, it makes you think so much harder about why and how, you make some leaps. Anyway, it was a a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Another thing about listing on etsy

Please put your name and anything that is in the painting people could search in the title. Like if there are feathers and snakes, put that in your title. If there are bikes and birds and breasts, put that in your title. People search for those things. Also, if there is room you can put in the colors. People will find you.

I love seeing your art. It makes me hope.

Arty Stuff and Back Pain

The last couple of weeks has been a blurry haze of pain, painkillers and muscle relaxers. My doctor thinks I have a new bulging disc in my lower back. I am trying to be patient, but it's hard.

I've had a lot of time to sit here, wishing I could paint. I'm about ready to do it anyway.

Here's some things I have been thinking about:

Have you seen this?:

For a couple of years I have used plain white gesso for the ground in a lot of my paintings, esp. faces, as you can use watercolor, either pencils or tube watercolors on it pretty well. Anyway, I'm going to get some of this and try it.

My favorite surface to paint on is gessoed masonite. Delightful. No rough holey canvas to worry about, just smooth, buttery, gesso. I love it.

Reading Salley Mavor's blog reminded me that I have wanted to incorporate my love of all things stitchy into my work somehow. So when my head clears from drugginess, I've been thinking how to do that. The most frustrating thing about being an artist is trying new things that don't work. Hours spent making ugly art. But you have to pay the piper. From all that work and frustration comes something original and worth it.

Some thoughts on listing on etsy or ebay or whatever:

Try hard to take a picture of your painting on a wall. Either use a gallery wrapped canvas or frame it. It's worth the trouble. Try to place something in your photo that gives an idea of the size of an item. Making a cool still life out of your painting and other things is also good, it makes the buyer see how they could hang your painting in their house. Be sure and state the size and any other pertinent info. Even your motivation and thoughts while painting the piece are interesting to buyers.

Gotta go, hope this helps!

Salley Mavor!

I have been a big Salley Mavor fan for years, but I had no idea she had a blog or that she has a new book out until I read about it on this delightful blog. You can buy the book on Amazon. Mine is on it's way, I can't wait!